In 1940, admiral nimitz s name was one of two submitted for the post of commander in chief of the pacific fleet. Nimitz at the operational archives, naval history and heritage. Allen benson describe the graybook and its significance. Naval war college released a trove of world war ii information monday by posting online the operational diary kept by the pacific commander, adm. After the attack on pearl harbor, nimitz assembled the forces, selected the leaders, and as commander of all u. Chester nimitz communications that started with the the pearl harbor attack and were kept through the end of the wwii is now available online. In midfebruary 2014, the naval war college unveiled an online 4000page gray book collection of fleet adm. Washington nns the naval war college library in newport, r. He was paged and told there was a phone call for him.
Nimitz news february 28, 2014 by uss nimitz cvn 68 issuu. Famed nimitz wwii diary unveiled online quarterdeck. Fleet admiral chester william nimitz this brief biography of world war iis most successful admiral covers the highlights of his naval career. February 24, 1885 february 20, 1966 was a fleet admiral of the united states navy. Official, semiofficial, and personal correspondence, dispatches. Chester nimitz communications that started in the wake of the pearl harbor attack and ran right up until the closing days of the war. Legendary admirals wwii diary to be released online history. Layton is most noted for his work as an intelligence officer during and. Nimitz gray book some good news from the naval war college. From 7 december 1941, the date of the japanese attack on pearl harbor, to 31 august 1945, two days before the japanese surrender at tokyo bay, pacific fleet staff at pearl harbor maintained a running estimate and summary of communicatons and other records in a gray book, copies of which were filed with the papers of fleet admiral chester w. At this early stage, anrs is able to provide images of one of the copies of the gray book that are located in papers of fleet admiral chester w. Nimitz was responsible for the victories at midway and okinawa among others. Bound in gray material, nimitz sdiary chronicles the pacific battles in rigorous detail, covering several. Finding aid pdf biography scope and content note these papers document all phases of admiral chester nimitz s career.
Chester nimitzs wwii gray book 4,000 pages worth of communications nimitz began right after the. Naval academy in 1905, he was on the china station. Chester nimitz communications that started in the wake of the pearl. The book, named simply for the color of its cover, is a collection of communications between nimitz and other commanders during world war ii. The book covers his full life, from a povertystricken childhood to postwar appointments as chief of naval operations and u. Nimitz was given a boat tour of the destruction wrought on pearl harbor by the japanese. The said project dubbed gray book was launched last february 24.
Admiral nimitzs wwii diary now online hmh current events. He played a major role in the naval history of world war ii as commander in chief, u. Layton, the pacific fleets intelligence officer from 1940 until the surrender of japan. The naval history and heritage command, located at the washington navy yard, is responsible for the preservation, analysis, and dissemination of u. During the battles in the pacific during world war ii, admiral chester w. Potters lively and authoritative style fleshes out admiral nimitzs personality to help readers appreciate the contributions he made as the principal architect of japans defeat. Nimitz, usn nimitz graybook 7 december 1941 31 august 1945 volume 7 of 8 running estimate and summary maintained by cincpac staff covering the period 1 july 1945 to 31 august 1945.
Pacific fleet and commander in chief, pacific ocean areas, commanding allied air, land, and sea forces during world war ii. Mar 15, 2008 called a great book worthy of a great man, this definitive biography of the commander in chief of the pacific fleet in world war ii, first published in 1976 and now available in paperback for the first time, continues to be considered the best book ever written about adm. In the gift shop, i purchased a small book entitled, reflections on pearl harbor by admiral chester nimitz. The gray book, a collection of communications from fleet adm.
Saving nimitzs graybook naval history magazine june 2014. The socalled gray book, named for its original cover, spans from the days after the attack on pearl harbor to the final days of world war ii. The nimitz graybook access here the eight volumes of the nimitz gray book. The socalled gray book because of the color of its cover represents fadm nimitz s diary for the pacific command from 7 december 7 1941, until two days before the japanese surrender in. Chester nimitz military history oxford bibliographies.
Legendary admiral s wwii diary to be released online this article discusses the importance of fleet admiral chester w. Nimitz, halsey, leahy and king the fivestar admirals who won the war at sea by walter r. When he answered the phone, it was president franklin delano roosevelt on the phone. The socalled gray book because of the color of its cover represents fadm nimitz s diary for the pacific command from 7 december 7 1941, until two days before the japanese surrender in tokyo bay 31 august 1945. Feb 27, 2014 washington the naval war college library in newport, r. The navy unveiled a gold mine of wwii information when it decided to publish nimitz diary about 4,000 pages of personal records written by fleet adm. Posting of nimitz graybook cheered by researchers zeke maccormack feb. Nimitz notes from december, 1941, compiled in his gray book, which the navy put on the internet in 2014. Nimitz was with the young submarine service until 19 when he was sent to germany and belgium to study. Chester nimitz operational communications that started in the wake of the pearl harbor attack and ran right up until the closing days of the war. Nimitz confers with members of the press at pacific fleet.
Chester nimitz communications that started with the the pearl harbor attack and were kept. Nimitz gray book, digitized and published by the naval war college. Chester nimitzs communications that started in the wake of the pearl harbor attack and ran right up until the closing days of the war. Features fullscreen sharing embed analytics article stories visual stories seo. Chester nimitz that range from the pearl harbor attack to the days before japans surrender, has been digitized and will be unveiled monday as part of a live web program on the navys official blog. Nimitz to the allied victory in world war ii, and the significance evidenced of the gray book primary source collection. Sunday, december 7th, 1941 admiral chester nimitz was attending a concert in washington d. Nimitz, usn nimitz graybook 7 december 1941 31 august 1945 volume 7 of 8 running estimate. Steele, usn, cincpac staff at pearl harbor, hawaii, covering the period 7 december 1941 to 31 august 1942 the 8 volumes are paginated as follows. Called a great book worthy of a great man, this definitive biography of the commander in chief of the pacific fleet in world war ii, first published in 1976 and now available in paperback for the first time, continues to be considered the best book ever written about adm. Navy taking the wraps off world war ii logs of admiral. A brilliant strategist who never sought the limelight, chester nimitz was an incomparable leader who served america brilliantly throughout the war in the pacific and has earned a place in history as one of our greatest naval officers. Nimitz at the operational archives, naval history and. Dec 31, 2014 in midfebruary 2014, the naval war college unveiled an online 4000page gray book collection of fleet adm.
Admiral nimitz gray book the 4,000page gray book collection of fleet adm. Watch live unveiling of nimitz 4,000 page wwii diary. Chester henry nimitz february 24, 1885february 20, 1966 served as commander in chief of the u. Feb 27, 2014 the command summary of fadm chester nimitz was compiled by the war plans section of the pacific command headquarters in hawaii during world war ii. We had just missed a ferry and had to wait 30 minutes. Nimitz kept a collection of communications that grew to more than 4,000 pages. They have finished collecting correspondence to and from admiral nimitz during world war 2, from right after pearl harbor to japans surrender. Admiral nimitz is a superbly written biography of one of the towering but least known heroes of world war ii. The books were originally bound in graycovered binders that gave the document. Steele, usn, cincpac staff at pearl harbor, hawaii, covering the period 7 december 1941 to 31 august 1942.
Nimitz, usn nimitz graybook 7 december 1941 31 august 1945 volume 1 of 8 running estimate and summary maintained by captain james m. Nimitzs 4000 page world war ii gray book being made available to the public. A closer look inside, however, reveals that this document is. In that role, he commanded all land and sea forces in the central pacific area. Bound in gray material, nimitz sdiary chronicles the pacific battles in rigorous detail, covering several volumes of situational strategy and experience from a.
Ive just started reading, and its extremely interesting. Citations to that document will be made with a parenthetical hyperlink that. Back in 2012 the naval war college gathered up all the communications and letters of adm. Citations to that document will be made with a parenthetical hyperlink that will give the pdf page, not the printed page number. Big sunken battleships and navy vessels cluttered the waters every where you. Chester william nimitz was born in fredericksburg, texas, on february 24, 1885. Nimitz explains blessings at pearl harbor the journalnews. Edwin thomas layton april 7, 1903 april 12, 1984 was a rear admiral in the united states navy.
The command summary of fadm chester nimitz was compiled by the war plans section of the pacific command headquarters in hawaii during world war ii. Military historians and admiral nimitz museum officials cheered the release monday of an online version of the daybyday operational log that the famed seaman maintained during the war in the. Admiral nimitz was in his home in washington listening to a symphony on the radio when he heard the news that pearl harbor had been attacked. Nimitz, usn nimitz graybook 7 december 1941 31 august 1945 volume 7 of 8 running estimate and summary maintained by cincpac staff covering the period 1 july 1945 to 31 august 1945 the 8 volumes are paginated as follows. Washington the naval war college library in newport, r. Saving nimitzs graybook naval history magazine june. This is a fantastic read and can give one insights on. Famed nimitz wwii diary to be unveiled online monday. Bound in gray material, nimitzsdiary chronicles the pacific battles in rigorous detail, covering several volumes of situational strategy and experience from a firsthand perspective. Highly respected by both the civilian and naval communities, nimitz was sometimes overshadowed by more. Nns the aircraft carrier uss nimitz cvn 68 is celebrating the life of its namesake, fleet adm. They are especially important for the period 19471966, for nimitz s service as commanderinchief, us pacific fleet and pacific ocean areas from 1941 to 1945, and as chief of naval operations, 19451947. Pacific fleet and commander in chief, pacific ocean areas, commanding allied air, land, and sea forces during world war ii nimitz. This compilation of nimitz correspondence with major commanders is called admiral nimitz command summary, running estimate.
Mar 06, 2014 the naval war college library in newport, r. Reflections on pearl harbor by admiral chester nimitz. For some of the debunking done here, were turning directly to adm. An eighth book contains selected dispatches relating to the battle of midway. Chester nimitz s communications that started in the wake of the pearl harbor attack and ran right up until the. The weekly publication of the aircraft carrier uss nimitz cvn 68 issuu company logo. You can watch live as the naval war college library in newport, r. What were the main sources of frustration in the digital launch of the nimitz graybook that you would want to see done differently in the future. February 17, 1915 january 2, 2002 was an american submarine commander in the united states navy during world war ii and the korean war, and a businessman. Chester nimitz was an admiral s admiral, considered by many to be the greatest naval leader of the last century. The navy will unveil a treasure trove of world war ii history monday with the online release of more than 4,000 pages of personal records from fleet adm. Nimitz kept a daily journal now referred to as the gray book.
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